STYLING

ASOS MAG MEETS KHALID

By Sam Higgins, May 17, 2019

At only 21, Khalid is a certified global superstar. With more hits than years lived on the planet, the R&B sensation is in the mix of a truly meteoric rise that spans from working with breakout star Billie Eilish, to nailing collabs with EDM giants Marshmello and Calvin Harris. Read more about Khalid’s story below and pick up the Summer '19 issue of the ASOS Mag for the full article.

On being a role model

"It's a lot of pressure, people point to you and I don't really know what to say sometimes. I know what I want to say but to put that into words every time is a little difficult for me. I want to be the person people can turn to and relate to and be like 'I’ve been there, I’m going through that.' That’s way more helpful than me acting like I’m this perfect being and giving someone expectations that not even I can live up to on a daily basis."

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On the time between his first and second albums

"I made American Teen when I was a senior in high school about the pressures of being 18 in America, I felt like it was very innocent." So what changed? "The real world slaps you in the face at 100 miles per hour. I know a lot more about myself at 21 than I did at 18, so I feel like the new album (Free Spirit) is very mature. I’m really finding a great sound that I feel comfortable with, it’s like it floats off me."

Pictures: Photographer: Olivia Rose, Styled by Magda Bryk

On future aspirations

"I want to be limitless. I want to be comfortable in any genre — 2018 was practice for that. I did a super-sadass song with Billie Eilish, an uplifting song with Shawn Mendes and three EDM songs, one with Calvin Harris, one with Marshmello and one with Martin Garrix."